FUN IN RENO!

Yea for St. Martin's Press, publisher of the House of Night - the fabulous young adult series I co-author with my daughter, Kristin. Last weekend they sent us to Reno for a lovely champagne, chocolate and authors event at the American Association of School Librarians National Convention. We had a great time, which Kristin recorded with the new camera I got her for her 21st birthday (I gave it to her early - her b-day isn't until November 4th). So, here's our "adventure" in Reno!

Here we are getting ready to board our plane and leave Tulsa International. Please note how perky we look.








This is Kristin being scared on the plane. Did I mention she's terrified of flying?
And here's me. I'm NOT terrified of flying.

But, of course, we made it to RENO in one lovely piece - or two lovely pieces.


Well, we pretended to gamble (losing...winning...winning...losing the same $5.00 in the slots and not knowing what the hell we were doing) and we stuffed our faces with excellent food whilst we saw the sights at the Silver Legacy Resort. I liked the tacky fountain.

And Kristin liked the gross vampyre.


Then we changed into The Authors, looking to-die-for in our LBDs (little black dresses) and headed to the Silver Ballroom for The Event. Check out the yummy chocolate cake (yes, there was nice champagne, too).


We were first up to speak and read from BETRAYED. Kristin (better known as Chicken Frances) was just "a little" scared, but as soon as we got on stage all was well. First she took this picture of our lovely audience.


Afterwards we visited with some amazing fans (check us out!) and then signed zillions of books.


Then we were exhausted so, of course, we went back to our room and ordered room service. (Sorry, forgot to take a picture of that.)

The next day it was back to the airport to return to Tulsa.

Yes, you may note here that we're definitely NOT as perky as the first airport picture.

Anyway - we had a blast! Next weekend it's Shawnee's Red Dirt Festival! More pictures to come...

BETRAYED LAUNCH PARTY

BETRAYED IS FINALLY OUT! The launch party for it was a blast - lots of excellent costumes - my lovely tarot reader was there - yummy snacks - and, of course, exellent coffee (the launch party was at The Blend, a locally owned coffee shop). Thanks to all the fabulous fans who attended. A special thanks to Don and Ann Maire for sending the fun pictures!

Kristin and me!


Us with Bryan "Dragon" Lankford who surprised us by coming all the way from Dallas!


Amber Taylor (one of my nutty students!)


Laura Shepard (another of my nutty students)


Don's lovely wife, Vickie.

Betrayed: Book Trailer

Even better than the last one!

VAMP RELEASE MONTH PART II

So...response to Marianne and her YA vamps was fabulous! Vamp release number two is the amazing Rachel Caine and MIDNIGHT ALLEY.


Check her out - and remember, if you comment, you might win! I'll announce winners SATURDAY.

Hi, I’m Rachel Caine, author of a young adult series called THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES. The latest book, MIDNIGHT ALLEY, is coming out on October 2, and I’m very excited to welcome you back, if you’re already a Morganville resident, or if not, give you the Visitor’s Tour!

Morganville, Texas is a small, dusty town in the middle of nowhere – it has a not-very-good college, and not much else to recommend it. But Morganville hides a drastic secret … because it’s the last safe haven for vampires. In fact, the town was founded by vampires. Vampires are the shadow government – and the not-so-shadowy rules of the human population, sometimes interacting directly, sometimes staying apart.

It’s like the Mafia, with fangs.

Claire Danvers, who was all set to head off to a glorious Ivy League early admission, has been forced to attend Texas Prairie University in Morganville … a “safe place” until she comes of age, at least according to her parents. But her parents don’t know just how dangerous things are. Claire’s made a lot of enemies in town – some accidentally, some deliberately – and she’s also made some very powerful allies, including the biggest, baddest vampire in town, the Founder Amelie.

Now, in MIDNIGHT ALLEY, Claire is being asked to take on a new job as an assistant to a secret, very dangerous vampire … one who holds the secrets to everything in Morganville. She’s balancing that with keeping her boyfriend Shane and friends Michael and Eve out of trouble, making her classes, and keeping her parents from becoming even more suspicious about her Morganville lifestyle. But the new job is going to be both seductive and even more deadly than she’s been told … and all of Morganville is at stake.

You can check out the entire Morganville experience in GLASS HOUSES, THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE, and this new release, MIDNIGHT ALLEY. I’ve also got short stories out on my website at www.rachelcaine.com/morganville!

Comment below to win signed copies of all three Morganville books!

YOUNG ADULT VAMP RELEASE MONTH!

October is definitely the Month of the Paranormal, so it's no big surprise that YA publishers have chosen October as the month to release several kick ass vampire/vampyre novels. I'm going to give you guys a heads up on some of the best, as well as a chance to win signed copies from the fabulous authors.

First up is the amazing Marianne Mancusi. Check her out and comment in for a chance to win a copy of her entire BOYS THAT BITE trilogy!



Hi all,
I’m Mari Mancusi and I’m your guest blogger today, here to talk a little bit about my teen vampire series from Berkley Jam (Boys that Bite, Stake That!, Girls that Growl) and about the vampire society I created when writing the books. I will also be giving away copies of the entire trilogy to a commenter, so be sure to tell me what you think! I’ll be stopping by to answer any questions, too.

In BOYS THAT BITE, all sixteen year old Rayne McDonald wanted in life was to become a vampire. She networked, got on the waiting list, even took her vampire certification class (which required some heavy homework.) But on the night she was supposed to be bitten and made undead, her intended Blood Mate, Magnus, accidentally bit her identical twin sister Sunny instead. Sunny had no idea, up until this point, that vampires even existed, and was so not pleased to be informed that she would now be turning into one a week before prom.

Poor Rayne’s luck doesn’t get much better in Book #2, STAKE THAT!. She’s informed by her school’s drama teacher (who also happens to be VP of Slayer Inc) that she’s the one in her generation destined to become--not a vampire, but a vampire slayer. Her first assignment? To get into a seedy blood bar downtown and slay its owner, a baddie vamp named Maverick. Luckily, she has help in the form of brooding, emo vampire Jareth.

In book #3, GIRLS THAT GROWL, our Goth heroine Rayne gets a new assignment—her toughest yet. To infiltrate the ranks of her high school cheerleading squad! Some football players have gone missing and the cheerleaders have been heard, well, growling.

A lot of people have compared my series to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I would definitely say I was influenced by Joss Whedon’s brilliance. But while the humor may be similar, the vampire world I created is very different than his. My vampires are high tech and organized and most of them are good—mingling with humans and getting blood from specially tested paid Blood Donors, instead of running around biting and killing people. They don’t like garlic and crosses, but have no problem with mirrors. They can regenerate quickly when injured, except when infected by tainted blood. They can’t go out in the sunshine and live in massive underground crypts hidden below cemeteries. They are extremely rich and hold many prominent positions around the world.

When Rayne decided she wanted to become a vampire, she had to go through a ton of testing and take certification classes. Once she was approved, the Council had to find her a Blood Mate with compatible DNA. A Blood Mate is kind of like a soul mate, who agrees to share his or her blood with the vampire-to-be and become partners with them for eternity.

I hope you will get a chance to check out the series. Book 1, BOYS THAT BITE, was released in May 2006 and was a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Book 2, STAKE THAT!, came out in December 2006. And now, we continue the story with GIRLS THAT GROWL, out this week!! For more information, visit me at www.boysthatbite.com or friend me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/marimancusi.

Comment below to win the entire trilogy!